Discussion: Unfair Experience

Unfair Experience Discussion
Name
Institution
Bright Road hospital Lawsuit Case
Informed consent in health care is a procedure through which a clinician obtains permission to conduct a given treatment having communicated effectively about probable risks, benefits and alternative treatment to the patient (Faden et al., 2014). Last summer, I read an article that covered a lawsuit case against Bright Road hospital involving a case of negligence and overrules on a patient’s consent. The patient, Mr. Davis, narrates of her encounter with the hospital cardiologist and later with the hospital’s radiologist. Mr. Davis underwent a Cardiac catheterization procedure to rectify a problem in one of his arteries. In performing the cardiac catheterization, the physician, Mr. Frederick, performed an additional procedure without seeking consent from Davis.
The hospital’s radiologist, Dr. Julie, conducted a CT scan on Davis which revealed a 30-35% blockage in one of her arteries. In her judgment, Dr. Julie concluded that the blockage is not startling hence advised her to take alternative measures such as improved diet, more exercise, and maybe implanting a staton rather than going for a Cardiac catheterization with stents. Upon returning the CT scan results to the Cardiologist, Mr. Davis clarified to him that she did not require stents implanted since she had read an article on the effects of stents. Further, Mr. Davis narrates of how the Physician was egoistic in his knowledge hence he bullied her into giving in to a catheterization procedure.

The patient emphasizes that on the consent form prior to the surgery, he crossed out the part that suggested stents to be added. Nevertheless, Dr. Fredericks proceeded with the procedure anyway without considering the changes made on the original consent form. The fact that Dr. Frederick ignored reading the patient’s consent form, what he terms as a mere formality, lead to the use of stents against the patient’s will.
Conclusion
Mr. Davis, who has now filed a lawsuit against Bright Road hospital, is of the many patients in the US who receive procedures against their consent. Physicians have been known to have an ego that sends them into forcing their patients into procedures that may pose adverse health effects to the patients (Faden et al., 2014). Therefore, it is important that the healthcare system advocates for written consent forms before performing surgical procedures; and ensure the patient has competent information about the advantages and effects a procedure before it is undertaken.
References
Faden, R. R., Beauchamp, T. L., & Kass, N. E. (2014). Informed consent, comparative effectiveness, and learning health care. N Engl J Med, 370(8), 766-768.